Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$2,832,779

Total expenses

$2,775,291

Contributions and grants received

$1,734,045

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$976,323

Investment income

$54,535

Other revenue

$67,876

Total assets, end of year

$6,679,875

Total liabilities, end of year

$1,669,541

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$5,010,334

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$2,380,977

Management and general expenses

$194,299

Fundraising expenses

$200,015

Program service expenses (Part III)

$2,380,977

Program services were 85.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2023

• SEE SCHEDULE OBERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY (BHS) IS A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT, SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ORGANIZATION NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE AGENCY. BHS RECEIVES NO PUBLIC FUNDS FROM STATE OR FEDERAL SOURCES. BHS HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF PITTSFIELD TO HOUSE THE STRAY ANIMALS OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND RECEIVES MINIMAL FUNDS FROM THIS CONTRACT. THE ANIMAL SHELTER DEPENDS ON THE COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY OF THE COMMUNITY. EACH MONTH, THE SHELTER SPENDS APPROXIMATELY $250,000 HELPING ANIMALS AND PEOPLE.BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY OFFERS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO ADOPTING OUT COMPANION ANIMALS, BHS OFFERS FAMILY DOG SCHOOL, WHICH WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE PRIMARY REASON DOGS AND PUPPIES ARE SURRENDERED; "BAD BEHAVIOR." FAMILY DOG SCHOOL OFFERS FREE CONSULTATION AND AFFORDABLE TRAINING, PROVIDING SESSIONS IN MANNERS, TRICKS, NOSE WORK, REACTIVITY, AND CANINE GOOD CITIZEN THERAPY CERTIFICATES. ANNUALLY FAMILY DOG SCHOOL ASSISTS MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE, HELPING TO KEEP DOGS IN THEIR HOMES.BHS FOSTERS A DEEP CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS WHY WE OPENED A WELLNESS CLINIC IN 2023. THIS CLINIC PROVIDES LOW-COST TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL NEEDS SUCH AS COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EXAMS, BLOODWORK, FLEA AND TICK TREATMENT, VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPPING, PARASITE SCREENINGS AND TREATMENT, HEARTWORM & TICKBORNE DISEASE TESTING, FELINE LEUKEMIA & AIDS TESTING, AND MORE. BEYOND THE CLINIC BHS ALSO OFFERS LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS AND POP-UP CLINICS FOR VACCINATIONS AND MICROCHIPPING FOCUSED ON UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. THE SHELTER PARTNERS WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO TARGET THOSE MOST-IN-NEED NEIGHBORHOODS. FREE MEDICAL EXAMS ARE OFFERED AT THESE CLINICS ALONG WITH TRAP-NEUTER RETURN RESOURCES FOR FERAL CATS.OUR COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TRAP-NEUTER-RETURN AND IS LED BY A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE HUMANE TREATMENT AND CARE OF STRAY OR FERAL CATS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS. THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM WORKS DILIGENTLY TO HELP KEEP THE CAT POPULATION IN CONTROL AND LOOKS TO HOME ANY CAT TRAPPED WHO IS NOT FERAL. FOR CAT-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS BHS ALSO OFFERS A SATELLITE LOACATION, PURRADISE, IN GREAT BARRINGTON, OFFERING CAT-ONLY ADOPTIONS, FELINE BOARDING SERVICES AND PICK UP FOR OUR PET FOOD BANK, ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR PET FOOD ASSISTANCE IN SOUTHERN BERKSHIRES.ANOTHER VALUABLE PROGRAM SERVING BOTH PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IS BHS'S SAFEPET PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCING EXTREME HARDSHIP OR CRISIS. BHS WORKS IN TANDEM WITH THE ELIZABETH FREEMAN CENTER, A PITTSFIELD-BASED RESOURCE FOR WOMEN, AS WELL AS THE BRIEN CENTER, ELDER SERVICES OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, ELDER PROTECTIVE SERVICES OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY, AND BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER. PETS ENTERED INTO THIS FREE 30-DAY PROGRAM ARE FOSTERED BY BHS VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WHO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS UNTIL THEY CAN BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY. THE ARRANGEMENT IS ENTIRELY CONFIDENTIAL. THE SAFEPET PROGRAM SERVES APPROXIMATELY 50 CLIENTS PER YEAR, WHICH EQUALS OVER 2,000 DAYS OF ANIMAL CARE. MORE THAN 3,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS HAVE BEEN DEVOTED TO FOSTERING ANIMALS IN THE SAFEPET PROGRAM.TO SUPPORT ANIMALS WHOSE OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, BHS OFFERS A FREE PET FOOD BANK THAT IS STOCKED FROM COMMUNITY DONATIONS. THIS SERVICE ALSO HELPS KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOME. EACH YEAR, THE SHELTER RECEIVES APPROXIMATELY 4,000 REQUESTS FOR PET FOOD. BHS SUPPLIES PET FOOD TO ANOTHER NON-PROFIT HUMAN FOOD PANTRY IN NORTHERN BERKSHIRES, THE FRIENDSHIP CENTER, AND SUPPLIES PET FOOD TO SEVERAL OTHER FOOD BANKS IN THE COUNTY WHEN POSSIBLE. BHS HAS ALSO STARTED COLLABORATIONS WITH ELDER SERVICES' MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM PROVIDING DOG AND CAT FOOD TO SENIORS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING INSECURITIES, ULTIMATELY HELPING KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES, PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED COMPANIONSHIP.BECAUSE BHS BELIEVES IN FOSTERING COMPASSION IN HUMANS, THE SHELTER OFFERS HUMANE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS TOUCH MORE THAN 2,100 CHILDREN AND ADULTS OVER THE COURSE OF EACH YEAR THROUGH IN-SHELTER AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. SINCE COVID WE HAVEN'T DONE SUMMER CAMP BUT CONTINUE TO EDUCATE BY OFFERING SCHOOL/CLASS TOURS AND VISITING SCHOOLS. SOME VISITING PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN FOR ANIMAL INFORMATION AND CAREER EDUCATION IN ANIMAL WELFARE. BY EDUCATING FUTURE GENERATIONS, BHS FOSTERS COMPASSION AND INSPIRES ADVOCACY.CATWALK BOUTIQUES ARE IMPORTANT REVENUE SOURCES FOR BERKSHIRE HUMANE SOCIETY. THE SUCCESSFUL RESALE SHOPS IN GREAT BARRINGTON AND LENOX SPECIALIZE IN WOMEN'S CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES. THE STORES RELY ON DONATED CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR INVENTORY.FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT BERKSHIREHUMANE.ORG

  Expenses $401,858 · Revenue $338,665

• SEE SCHEDULE OSINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1992, BHS SHELTER ACCEPTS MORE THAN 1,500 ANIMALS THAT ARE CARED FOR AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. ANIMALS ARE SURRENDERED FOR MANY REASONS-FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, DEATH OF OWNER, CHANGE IN LIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. SHELTER STAFF PRIORITIZES PROBLEM SOLVING TO HELP KEEP ANIMALS IN THEIR HOME WHENEVER POSSIBLE, CARING FOR, REHABILITATING, AND PLACING SURRENDERED ANIMALS INTO RESPONSIBLE HOMES IS THE CRUX OF BHS'S MISSION. BHS IS THE ONLY OPEN-ADMISSION AND SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS ANIMAL SHELTER IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, WHICH MEANS THAT ANIMALS ARE ACCEPTED WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AGE, BREED, OR TEMPERAMENT. MANY ANIMALS THAT COME TO BHS HAVE NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR SURRENDERING ANIMALS. FROM DOGS AND CATS TO BIRDS AND ALL TYPES OF SMALL MAMMALS, BHS IS THE PLACE TO FIND A NEW PET. TRAINED ADOPTION COUNSELORS WORK WITH POTENTIAL ADOPTERS TO FIND THE BEST FIT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND LIFESTYLES. THE CANINE STAFF USES THE ASPCA'S "SAFER" (SAFETY ASSESSMENT FOR EVALUATING REHOMING) TOOL TO IDENTIFY THE RISK OF FUTURE AGGRESSION AND INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR SUPPORT NEEDED BEFORE ADOPTION. BHS ADOPTION FEES INCLUDE SPAYING/NEUTERING, VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPPING, WORMING, AND A FREE LIFETIME OF ADVICE. BHS LOSES MONEY ON EVERY SINGLE ADOPTION. THE SHELTER DOES NOT PLACE LIMITS ON THE TIME THAT AN ADOPTABLE ANIMAL STAYS AT THE SHELTER. IN 2024, 764 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED; ON AVERAGE, DOGS WAIT 20 DAYS TO BE ADOPTED, SMALL ANIMALS 30 DAYS, AND CATS 24 DAYS. THE COST OF CARE DURING AN AVERAGE STAY WAS MORE THAN $450.00 PER ANIMAL.FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT BERKSHIREHUMANE.ORG

  Expenses $1,979,119 · Revenue $637,658

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

14 May 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202521349349305782

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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